Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz today chaired the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers and reiterated the Kingdom's concern that efforts be continued to revive the peace process in the region in a way that secures the realization of all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Higher Education Minister and Acting Minister of Information Dr. Khalid Ibn Muhammad Al-Angary reported that King Fahd warned of the gravity of the situation emanating from Israel's flagrant violation of UN resolutions and peace agreements signed between the two parties.

Minister Al-Angary reported that the cabinet went on to review the outcome of the executive plan carried out by the Ministry of the Interior for the repatriation of those who overstay in the Kingdom, and for the settlement of situations where the labor laws have been violated, and praised the role in the development of the country undertaken by those expatriates who enjoy legal residence. King Fahd then urged all Ministers to maintain an open-door policy, a Saudi practice whereby any citizen can have access to present their problems and suggestions directly.

The cabinet then passed a number of resolutions, including approval of the renewal of the commercial and economic protocol between the Kingdom and the Arab Republic Syria, for one more year effective November 26, 1997.